Is a living, breathing human being qualified to teach a college course about the undead?

For University of Baltimore professor Arnold Blumberg, the answer is yes.

Blumberg, 39, is currently teaching a curious course titled “Media Genres: Zombies,” in which his roughly 45 students feast on books, comics and 16 zombie films, including the 1932 Bela Lugosi classic “White Zombie,” which Blumberg regards as “filled with atmosphere and very creepy.”

This is a class that taps into the zombie zeitgeist sweeping the nation — and it’s just one of several like it around the country serving up an off-the-beaten-path education to hungry students. Blumberg speaks about his syllabus — and zombies, of course — with bright fan boy enthusiasm.

“I've always enjoyed horror, and I've always found zombies more interesting and exciting than a lot of other fantasy monsters,” he told TODAYshow.com. “The idea of a monster that is so very human and yet inhuman at the same time — I can only guess those things hooked me as a kid in the same way they've attracted generations of fans and moviegoers.”

In addition to the ever-ubiquitous cinema and small-screen vampires, zombies are just kinda hot right now. They inspired the best-selling 2009 literary mashup “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”; they’ll give the “True Blood” cast a run for its money when they appear in the AMC show “The Walking Dead,” which is a TV adaptation of a comic book series of the same name; there’s the “Dead Rising” and “Left 4 Dead” video game series, and even a Zombie Con in Irondale, Mo., this past summer.

Blumberg jumped at the chance to teach the course, which looks at zombies from the 1930s to the present from an academic standpoint. The class has already received national and international attention.

“We’ve gotten calls from Los Angeles and Boston,” said Jonathan Shorr, director of the School of Communications Design at the University of Baltimore. Someone from Belgrade, Serbia, even contacted the school to ask if the class was available online, Shorr said.

From pop culture to classroom
While Blumberg’s course may attract a crowd with particularly strong stomachs, it’s certainly not the first of its kind. Columbia College in Chicago and Simpson College in Iowa also offer courses pertaining to the undead.

And in a larger context, Blumberg’s zombie class aligns well with a spate of other offbeat courses at universities across the country. At Georgetown University, students have the option of enrolling in the “Philosophy and Star Trek” course. Students at Bowdoin College in Maine can take classes called “The Souls of Animals” and “Tolkien’s Middle Ages.”

More crazy college courses

Check out some other recent interesting offerings at colleges around the country

In 2007, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s comparative media studies program began offering a course titled “American Pro Wrestling.” The same department also offered a course in 2008 exploring American soap operas.

“It was understood that wrestling is a very significant cultural phenomena,” said David Thorburn, professor of literature and comparative media studies, when asked about MIT’s decision to offer such a course. “The normal reaction for people, when they see in the curriculum things that come from their ordinary lives, like television or wrestling or sports events ... is to think the teacher is pandering to the students, or that the class is intellectually dubious. But it would make perfect sense if a film student or an anthropology student decided to take courses in this sort of thing. They would be learning about other aspects of popular culture.”

A no-brainer?College enrollment rates were at an all-time high in 2009, with more than 70 percent of high school graduates enrolling, according to a Labor Department report released in April. So perhaps it makes sense for schools to further diversify the courses they offer.

“These seemingly offbeat courses perform the same kind of function as other liberal arts courses, and that is to train you as a critical thinker and reader,” says Thomas S. Davis, assistant professor of English at Ohio State University. “You are learning to be a more discerning reader of cultural texts and phenomena, and that’s a good thing.”

That’s why Blumberg’s zombie course was a natural fit for student Darin Malfi. Malfi, 30, already knew of the professor through “Zombiemania,” a 2006 book Blumberg co-wrote with Andrew Hershberger, so the course was something of an ... uhh ... no-brainer.

“The class teaches you how to look at popular culture critically,” says Malfi. “All of the things he’s teaching, you can apply it to any medium of pop culture and see where it’s coming from.”

Blumberg, who credits the notorious 1968 movie “Night of the Living Dead” with being his first zombie film experience, shrugs off the notion that his class is merely frivolous.

“It would be irresponsible to not teach this kind of course,” he explained. “Young people are completely swamped with messages on their computers, on their smart phones, on their televisions. Why not to give them the tools they need to be able to analyze things around them properly?”

Pens, paper ... and popcorn

From 'Animal House' to 'Bad Teacher,' these movies show there's more to school than reading, writing and arithmetic.

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'
Mae Whitman, Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Erin Wilhelmi star in the 2012 coming-of-age comedy "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," based on the 1999 novel.
(Summit Entertainment)
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'21 Jump Street'

Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum star in this 2012 comedy -- based on the Johnny Depp TV series -- as a pair of policemen who go undercover at a local high school to bring down a drug ring. A sequel where they go undercover in college, "22 Jump Street," was released in 2014.
(Columbia TriStar)
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'Pitch Perfect'

2012's "Pitch Perfect" follows a college a capella singing group as they compete at nationals. A sequel is planned for 2015.
(Universal Pictures)
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'Footloose'

The 2011 remake of the 1984 film "Footloose" followed the same plot. A new kid in a rural high school (Kenny Wormald in 2011, Kevin Bacon in 1984) discovers his town doesn't allow dancing, and fights to get the ban overturned.
(Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection)
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'Fame'

The 1980 musical "Fame" introduced many Americans to the dramatic life of students at the New York High School of Performing Arts. A reality show was eventually based on the movie.
(MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection)
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'The Social Network'

Jesse Eisenberg plays Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the critically acclaimed 2010 film "The Social Network," all about the company's founding in a Harvard dorm room.
(Columbia Pictures)
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'She's the Man'

In the 2006 romantic comedy "She's the Man," Amanda Bynes plays a female high-school student who pretends to be male in order to play on the boys' soccer team.
(DreamWorks)
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'Accepted'

In the 2006 comedy "Accepted," a group of high schoolers create their own college after being rejected from real ones.
(Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection)
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'The Perfect Score'

In the 2004 drama "The Perfect Score," Chris Evans leads a group of high-schoolers who steal the answers to the SAT.
(Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection)
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'10 Things I Hate About You'

The 1999 film "10 Things I Hate About You" is a modern take on of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew."
(Buena Vista Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection)
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'Dazed and Confused'

Richard Linklater's classic "Dazed and Confused," from 1993, takes place on the last day of school at Lee High School near Austin, Texas.
(Gramercy Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection)
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'The Amazing Spider-Man'

Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield star in this 2012 film portraying Spider Man's origin and his development into a superhero while still a high school student.
(Columbia Pictures)
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'Bad Teacher'

Cameron Diaz stars as Elizabeth, a foul-mouthed, gold-digging seventh-grade teacher, who, after being dumped by her current boyfriend, sets her sights on a colleague.
(Columbia Pictures)
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'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'

Based on the popular book series, 2010's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" follows the travails of wise-cracking middle school student Greg Heffley over the course of an academic year.
(20th Century Fox)
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'Easy A'

Emma Stone plays Olive Penderghast in 2010's "Easy A," about a high school girl whose life begins to parallel that of Hester Prynne in "The Scarlet Letter."
(Columbia TriStar)
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'17 Again'

Zac Efron plays a man who gets a chance to go back to high school and do things right this time in 2010's "17 Again." Matthew Perry plays the grown-up version of Efron's character.
(New Line Cinema)
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'Charlie Bartlett'

In 2008's "Charlie Bartlett," a rich kid (Anton Yelchin)becomes the self-appointed psychiatrist to the student body of his new high school.
(MGM)
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'Juno'

In 2007's "Juno," 16-year-old, smart aleck Juno (Ellen Page) discovers she is pregnant with classmate Paulie Bleeker's (Michael Cera) child and she is prematurely pushed into the adult world. She decides to give her baby up for adoption and searches for a couple in the local newspaper, settling on Mark (Jason Bateman) and Vanessa Loring (Jennifer Garner). The film was nominated for four Oscars, and won in the category of Best Original Screenplay.
(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
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'Freedom Writers'

Based on the nonfiction book "The Freedom Writers Diary," the 2007 film "Freedom Writers" is set in a school torn by racial divisions and poverty. Hilary Swank (left) plays a teacher in violence-beseiged Los Angeles who uses writing to help her students voice their struggles -- from seeing their friends die to being abused -- eventually helping them trust her.
(Paramount Pictures)
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'Superbad'

In the 2007 film "Superbad," Fogell (Christopher Mitz-Plasse), Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are high school seniors who are determined to stop being labeled "losers" and find a way to get some action from the fairer sex. They concoct a plan to score alcohol for the next hot party, hoping that this will make them heroes. Fogell starts the adventure off by procuring a fake ID bearing just one name: "McLovin."
(Columbia Pictures)
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'High School Musical'

High School Musical (2006) is considered to be loosely based on "Romeo and Juliet." Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens star in this Disney Channel Original Movie as popular basketball team captain Troy and smart, stunning academic Gabriella. Both shock the members of the social cliques to which they belong when they each decide to audition for the high school's musical.
(Disney Channel )
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'Akeelah and the Bee'

In the 2006 film, "Akeelah and the Bee," spelling words helped Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) connect with her father, who died when she was 6 years old. Akeelah, a lackluster student in south Los Angeles, is persuaded to enter the school's spelling bee, and when she wins, she is selected to compete in the state contest. Her principal enlists Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne). a professor and former spelling bee winner, to coach Akeelah -- boot camp-style.
(Lions Gate Pictures)
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'Napoleon Dynamite'

Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) isn't your average kid. He loves tater tots, his favorite animal is the liger and he has dance moves that would put those "Dancing with the Stars" contestants to shame. He's determined to get pal Pedro (Efren Ramirez) elected school president.
(Access Films)
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'Mean Girls'

Written by Tina Fey, 2004's "Mean Girls" stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady, a new girl in school who finds herself drawn into the popular clique she's secretly trying to bring down. Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams and Lacey Chabert co-star.
(Paramount Pictures)
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'School of Rock'

In 2003's "School of Rock," Jack Black stars as Dewey, a failed rocker who poses as a substitute teacher in an exclusive private school in order to earn some money. But instead of teaching the kids about math and English, he teaches them how to rock, forming a band for the local Battle of the Bands contest.
(Paramount Pictures)
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'Mona Lisa Smile'

Julia Roberts plays Katherine Watson, a feminist art-history teacher who feels just a bit out of place at an uptight 1953 women's college, where the girls seem to be preparing for marriage rather than careers, in 2003's "Mona Lisa Smile." Julia Stiles, Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal play the women Roberts inspires.
(Columbia Pictures)
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'Old School'

In Frat Pack classic "Old School" (2006), Mitch (Luke Wilson) is dumped by his girlfriend, so he decides to rent a house near a college, much to the delight of pals Frank (Will Ferrell) and Beanie (Vince Vaughn). But when their exploits get too rowdy, the college threatens to take the house away, so the boys start a frat that will accept anyone as a member.
(Dreamworks Pictures)
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'Not Another Teen Movie'

2001's "Not Another Teen Movie" spoofs many films in the genre, including "Never Been Kissed," "The Breakfast Club" and "10 Things I Hate About You."
(Columbia Pictures)
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'Legally Blonde'

In 2001's "Legally Blonde," Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) applies to Harvard Law School and gets in just so she can win back a boyfriend. She doesn't quite fit in with the other students, but realizes that her way of doing things just might have its place in the legal world after all.
(MGM)
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'Bring It On'

As captain of her school's championship-winning cheerleading squad, Torrance (Kirsten Dunst) is faced with stiff competition for the national title from the inner-city, hip-hop squad the Clovers, led by Isis (Gabrielle Union). Torrance's mission is further complicated when she learns that her predecessor stole cheer routines from the Clovers. Can she come up with a new routine that will help the Toros beat the Clovers? 2000's "Bring It On" reveals the answer.
(Universal Pictures)
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'American Pie'

In 1999's "American Pie," Jim (Jason Biggs) is your average healthy red-blooded virgin -- he's desperate and has no idea how to act around women, especially foreign-exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth). But what he doesn't realize is that his more experienced pals (Thomas Ian Nicholas, Chris Klein, and Eddie Kaye Thomas) are having just as much trouble with women as he is.
(Universal Pictures)
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'Clueless'

If anyone in Beverly Hills is clued in, it's Cher (Alicia Silverstone). She's almost 16, she's rich, she's way popular, and she loves letting the world benefit from her expertise in all of life's important issues -- like dating, fashions and looking good. But she's going to discover that, when it comes to matters of the heart, she's ... clueless. Luckily, pal Dionne (Stacy Dash) is always there to give her advice in 1995's "Clueless."
(Paramount Pictures)
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'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is a tricky but harmless fast-talker. But he knows how to have fun, which is exactly what he sets out to do when he feigns illness and talks his parents into letting him stay home from school. The perpetually lucky Ferris enlists his hypochondriac best friend, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), into springing Ferris' girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara), from class, and the three embark on a raucous downtown Chicago adventure in 1986's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
(Paramount Pictures)
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'Back to School'

Millionaire businessman Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) is upset when his son Jason (Keith Gordon) announces that he is not sure about going to college, in the 1986 film, "Back to School." Thornton insists that college is the best thing he never had for himself, and to prove his point, he agrees to enroll in school along with his son. Thornton is a big hit on campus: always throwing the biggest parties and knowing all the right people. But is this the way to graduate?
(Orion Pictures)
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'The Breakfast Club'

In 1985's "The Breakfast Club," a princess (Molly Ringwald), a geek (Anthony Michael Hall), a jock (Emilio Estevez), a basket case (Ally Sheedy) and a delinquent (Judd Nelson) are all forced to share a Saturday in detention. After pushing each other's buttons all day long, they finally learn to understand each other in spite of their differences.
(Universal Pictures)
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'Fast Times'

Sean Penn played surfer Jeff Spicoli in Amy Heckerling's 1982 film, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," a look at the year in the life of a Southern California high school (based on Cameron Crowe's experiences going undercover for his book). Spicoli just wanted to enjoy a little food in history class, but Mr. Hand (Ray Walston) was less than amused.
(Universal Pictures)
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'Grease'

Olivia Newton John and John Travolta starred in 1978's "Grease," based on the Broadway musical. The plot revolves around a sweet girl who gets involved with a T-Bird. They both realize if they're going to be together, they need to make some changes.
(Paramount Pictures)
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'Animal House'

In 1978's "National Lampoon's Animal House," John Belushi starred as Bluto a member of Faber College's Delta fraternity, a group that treasures partying, drinking and the pursuit of women over all else. After realizing that Dean Wormer has a plan to revoke their charter, they decide that, instead of whining about it, they'll have a toga party.
(Universal Pictures)
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'To Sir, With Love'

Sidney Poitier starred in 1967's "To Sir, with Love," directed by James Clavell. In the film, Poitier plays an idealistic black teacher who find himself teaching in an all-white London school. With unorthodox teaching techniques, he eventually wins the hearts and minds of the students. Pop singer Lulu eventually serenades him with the title track.
(Columbia Tristar)
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'Rebel Without a Cause'

James Dean holds Natalie Wood close in a scene from "Rebel Without A Cause," directed by Nicholas Ray. With it's story of disillusioned youth, the story struck a chord with 1955 audiences. Dean died before the film's release.
(Warner Bros.)
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.